Bleached Up
Set after Soul Society arc, future-fic, recent anime (Japanese) episodes.
One-sided Tatsuki/Ichigo
The short-haired girl stared unflinchingly outside; knowing that somewhere her best friend and her…love was doing something dangerous. Orihime didn’t say anything, but she didn’t have to. Tatsuki could see more than they thought she did; knew more than they thought she did. But she stayed quiet. It was Orihime’s chance to shine.
She still missed being the one by Ichigo’s side.
But Tatsuki stayed quiet for a reason. Orihime deserved to be happy. The adorable girl was sweet and kind to all, but she also obviously was in love with Ichigo. This was Orihime’s chance to catch Ichigo’s attention and Tatsuki wanted her best friend to be happy.
It was why she gave up her chances with Ichigo, nonexistent though she knew they were. She gave them up for Orihime, so that the bubbly girl could finally be with Ichigo. But the thing was, no matter that she did, sometimes it hurt too much. She had been with Ichigo for so long, but now they’ve been drifting apart until they were nothing more than casual classmates.
She’d given up Ichigo so that Orihime could have him.
Secretly, Tatsuki hated herself for losing Ichigo.
One-sided Ichigo/Ukitake, eventual Ukitake/Ichigo
Kurosaki-fukutaicho was hard to see, Rukia thought. To everyone, he’d always just be Ichigo to them. At least, to the shinigami who knew him.
But still, fuku-taicho of the 13th division…
Rukia was proud. In the beginning, she had felt a pang in her heart for Kaien-dono’s place being taken, but she grew used to the idea. And it helped that it was her best friend taking over. In fact, everyone else had taken to Ichigo –though the ones who didn’t know him were adamant about Kurosaki-fukutaicho.
At first, Ichigo had been awkward at the office. He didn’t know exactly what he was supposed to do or what the job really entailed. And then after spotting him with Hinamori a couple times, Ichigo seemed like he was getting a grip on things a few weeks after he’d started.
He was laid-back, the same old Ichigo everyone knew, but he got the job done. It was how she remembered him. When she had been in the living world, that was how Ichigo had been. But instead of paperwork, it had been homework she had seen him diligently working on.
Rukia smiled. It’s been a long time since she’d met Ichigo. Three years since and she’s never been happier. Ichigo was her best friend and she knew everything about him. She knew him so well that she could tell he was miserable.
To probably everyone else, Ichigo was fine. But she could see it. Ichigo was hurting inside. And she knew why too. It was so obvious whenever she caught the two of them together. Ichigo would smile brightly and so would the person Ichigo was smiling at.
Ichigo was in love with their captain.
Slight Hitsugaya/Karin
“Hurry it up, Toushiro!” Karin glared over from where she was skating on the ice. “I had to beg Ichi-nii to pull strings so he could book the rink just for us. So you should hurry it up and enjoy it!”
Hitsugaya glared back, still not moving from his spot at the entrance to the ice rink where his friend was skating nonchalantly.
“No, these…skates are flimsy. I don’t trust them,” Hitsugaya stated coldly.
Karin stopped in the middle of the rink, staring at him. She cocked her head to the side and studied him. Then, she began to snicker until it turned into full-blown laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Hitsugaya demanded to know, irritated.
She smirked at him, “You don’t know how to ice skate.”
Hitsugaya frowned, “Of course I do. I control ice, remember?”
“Yeah? Well, those skates ain’t ice so you’re afraid to skate.”
“I am not!” Hitsugaya said indignantly.
“Then come at me, short stuff.”
Hitsugaya huffed and put one skate onto the ice. Then he put the other and he almost fell backwards. But he steadied himself and looked up to see Karin grinning. Scowling even more, Hitsugaya pushed forward and headed towards Karin.
At least, that was the plan.
Instead, Hitsugaya fell onto his front, skidding past Karin and hitting the safety wall of the rink. Grunting, Hitsugaya winced as he slowly sat up.
“Toushiro! Are you alright?” Karin exclaimed, skating hurriedly towards him. She was just fine, he noted jealously, on those skates.
Stopping right next to him and offering her hand, she helped pull him up and winced herself at his scowling face.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have goaded you like that,” Karin apologized.
Hitsugaya grunted again, his scowl deepening. “Teach me then,” he demanded.
Karin’s jaw dropped and she stared at him, “What?”
Hitsugaya averted his gaze, feeling slightly ashamed, “I said, teach me. I will call it even.”
A small hand touched his and Hitsugaya felt himself pulled. Looking up, he saw Karin smiling gently at him, no hint of teasing. He vaguely acknowledged that he was gliding smoothly across the ice with Karin.
It seemed like he was quite capable of skating.
When he was skating with Karin.
Implied Gin/Rangiku
Sitting in Hueco Mundo alone, Gin knew he was happy. He was at Aizen’s side, powerful and becoming more powerful. He was helping to reshape this flawed existence.
“Oi, Gin! Come drinking with me!”
“Maa, I’m skipping paperwork today. Skip too, Gin! Let’s go to the living world and eat out.”
“Yare, yare. If you’d smile normally, everyone wouldn’t be so freaked out by you. You’d have more friends, that’s for sure.”
“How come you’re so distant nowadays, Gin? I mean, more than usual…”
“Gin, I l…sorry, never mind.”
“Why’d you kiss me…?”
Here in Hueco Mundo, Gin knew he was happy. Especially with the echoes.
Shunsui/Nanao
Nanao pushed up her glasses, finally finished with the large stack of paperwork she had been dealt with. Fortunately, her captain’s work had also been finished –strangely, since it was unusual for Shunsui to have done so. It meant he was planning something.
Slightly paranoid, Nanao decided it would be alright to go home. That is, until she caught sight of her captain’s flamboyant haori disappearing around a corner. Curious but wary, Nanao followed.
There were pink, white, and red rose petals littering the ground as she walked the abandoned hallway. Rolling her eyes at her captain’s silliness, she turned the corner and caught sight of the only door at the end of the new hallway. Walking leisurely, not at all in a hurry to catch Shunsui, she walked up to the lone door and pushed it open.
She gasped in surprise, seeing the room set up for a dinner for two. The same roses she had seen in the halls were decorated around the room along with numerous candles lit up.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of lips descend onto her cheek from the side. When they left, she felt that area tingle.
“Happy birthday, Nanao-chan,” Shunsui smiled softly, a sort of seriousness mixed in with the soft gaze.
Nanao stared, wondering how she should approach this situation.
“You’re a horrible romantic, Kyouraku-taicho,” she said stoically, but a corner of her mouth contradicted her disapproval of the situation when it twitched upwards.
“I’m only a romantic for you,” his eyes flittered with mischief.
“Maybe only for tonight,” she gave in.
The sentiment was appreciated all the same.
Isshin/Masaki
Women are horrible when they’re pregnant. That, Isshin decided, was one of the unwritten, natural laws of the universe.
Compared to right now, he’d much rather face a hollow than face his wife –correction, pregnant wife’s wrath.
“Isshin! I hate you!”
His shinigami training allowed him to dodge the bowl of oranges that headed his way. He held up his hinds in surrender, nervously facing his wife. She growled at him.
“What’s wrong, hun?”
“You stupid bastard!” she threw a butter knife that was in reach. “That’s it! I’m leaving! I hate you and I don’t want to be near you!”
Panicking, Isshin dropped to his knees and clasped his hand in front of him, “Don’t leave me, dearest! You and Ichigo are my whole world! Tell me my wrongs!”
Masaki sniffled and looked down at her swollen belly, rubbing it slightly. Pouting, she said to it, “Ichi-chan –”
“Ichi-kun.”
Glaring at Isshin for that, Masaki sighed and continued to her unborn baby, “Your idiot father forgot his own wife’s birthday. If he forgets mine, he’ll forget yours and then I’ll be stuck in a loveless marriage. Then you’ll have to grow up in a dysfunctional family…”
She sniffled again.
Isshin sweatdropped, but ran to the room. “See? I didn’t forget your birthday,” he said, holding the vase of red roses that had been displayed in their room.
“Those are from our room,” she glared.
“I gave your birthday gift to you early, remember?” Isshin grinned.
Masaki blinked, her mouth forming an O. “I see…”
His wife burst into tears. Isshin sighed and adjusted to the mood change.
Renji/Rukia
It was nice now that Rukia got along with her brother. It made him happy. And he owed it to Ichigo for doing so much for her. And really…for him.
Ichigo made him remember how important Rukia was and that Renji would have to fight for her.
So when Rukia lies nestled in his arms after another mission in the living world, even if just as friends, Renji decides he should do something special for Ichigo.
One-sided Hinamori/Aizen
She was an odd case. Certainly, not one of a kind. Situations like hers have happened before, but rarely. Hinamori Momo was a unique addition to Noir Asylum.
The main advocate, though reluctantly so, was Hitsugaya-taicho. But the captain knew Hinamori-san wasn’t doing quite as well as before Aizen’s betrayal. The signs were all there. Depression was usual, though Hitsugaya-taicho said she hid it well and mostly let it out at night when she thought no one was around. She ate less, almost to the point where she could be declared as having an eating disorder. Rare though very significant, was when Hinamori-san would violently react to something someone had said or done
It mostly had something to do with Aizen.
In the few sessions he’d had with her so far, he’d noted her rather obsessed nature concerning the ex-captain. While very fond of him at times, she had this hatred that equaled her fondness for the man. When he would let her go on, she could rant about Aizen for hours. The beginning half was very tender and affectionate. The latter went into a more darker realm.
He didn’t really think it was all that surprising. For years, she had been brainwashed by the traitor and then to be betrayed and almost killed by someone she had doted on so exceedingly would cause severe psychological damage. Her mindset was very typical of someone who had been betrayed by someone they practically worshipped.
That is, her hatred of the one she was in love with.
Byakuya/Hisana
“I love you.”
“I know.”
And Hisana did know. She could tell whenever Byakuya let down his defenses around her, compared to the façade he’d have to put up when he had to deal with his shinigami or familial duties.
And she loved him back.
She didn’t think he knew that, but she hoped he did. Her heart wasn’t just for Rukia. It had grown to fit him as well.
Started 9/2/07 –Completed 9/3/07
Soundtrack:
Tatsuki/Ichigo –Sick Inside (Hope Partlow)
Ukitake/Ichigo –Just So You Know (Jesse McCartney)
Hitsugaya/Karin –I’ll Be (Edwin McCain)
Gin/Rangiku –Precious (Depeche Mode)
Shunsui/Nanao –Kissing You (Des’ree)
Isshin/Masaki –Potential Breakup (Aly and AJ)
Renji/Rukia –Invisible Man (98 Degrees)
Hinamori/Aizen –Fallin (Alicia Keys)
Byakuya/Hisana –Foreverlasting (April)
The short-haired girl stared unflinchingly outside; knowing that somewhere her best friend and her…love was doing something dangerous. Orihime didn’t say anything, but she didn’t have to. Tatsuki could see more than they thought she did; knew more than they thought she did. But she stayed quiet. It was Orihime’s chance to shine.
She still missed being the one by Ichigo’s side.
But Tatsuki stayed quiet for a reason. Orihime deserved to be happy. The adorable girl was sweet and kind to all, but she also obviously was in love with Ichigo. This was Orihime’s chance to catch Ichigo’s attention and Tatsuki wanted her best friend to be happy.
It was why she gave up her chances with Ichigo, nonexistent though she knew they were. She gave them up for Orihime, so that the bubbly girl could finally be with Ichigo. But the thing was, no matter that she did, sometimes it hurt too much. She had been with Ichigo for so long, but now they’ve been drifting apart until they were nothing more than casual classmates.
She’d given up Ichigo so that Orihime could have him.
Secretly, Tatsuki hated herself for losing Ichigo.
One-sided Ichigo/Ukitake, eventual Ukitake/Ichigo
Kurosaki-fukutaicho was hard to see, Rukia thought. To everyone, he’d always just be Ichigo to them. At least, to the shinigami who knew him.
But still, fuku-taicho of the 13th division…
Rukia was proud. In the beginning, she had felt a pang in her heart for Kaien-dono’s place being taken, but she grew used to the idea. And it helped that it was her best friend taking over. In fact, everyone else had taken to Ichigo –though the ones who didn’t know him were adamant about Kurosaki-fukutaicho.
At first, Ichigo had been awkward at the office. He didn’t know exactly what he was supposed to do or what the job really entailed. And then after spotting him with Hinamori a couple times, Ichigo seemed like he was getting a grip on things a few weeks after he’d started.
He was laid-back, the same old Ichigo everyone knew, but he got the job done. It was how she remembered him. When she had been in the living world, that was how Ichigo had been. But instead of paperwork, it had been homework she had seen him diligently working on.
Rukia smiled. It’s been a long time since she’d met Ichigo. Three years since and she’s never been happier. Ichigo was her best friend and she knew everything about him. She knew him so well that she could tell he was miserable.
To probably everyone else, Ichigo was fine. But she could see it. Ichigo was hurting inside. And she knew why too. It was so obvious whenever she caught the two of them together. Ichigo would smile brightly and so would the person Ichigo was smiling at.
Ichigo was in love with their captain.
Slight Hitsugaya/Karin
“Hurry it up, Toushiro!” Karin glared over from where she was skating on the ice. “I had to beg Ichi-nii to pull strings so he could book the rink just for us. So you should hurry it up and enjoy it!”
Hitsugaya glared back, still not moving from his spot at the entrance to the ice rink where his friend was skating nonchalantly.
“No, these…skates are flimsy. I don’t trust them,” Hitsugaya stated coldly.
Karin stopped in the middle of the rink, staring at him. She cocked her head to the side and studied him. Then, she began to snicker until it turned into full-blown laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Hitsugaya demanded to know, irritated.
She smirked at him, “You don’t know how to ice skate.”
Hitsugaya frowned, “Of course I do. I control ice, remember?”
“Yeah? Well, those skates ain’t ice so you’re afraid to skate.”
“I am not!” Hitsugaya said indignantly.
“Then come at me, short stuff.”
Hitsugaya huffed and put one skate onto the ice. Then he put the other and he almost fell backwards. But he steadied himself and looked up to see Karin grinning. Scowling even more, Hitsugaya pushed forward and headed towards Karin.
At least, that was the plan.
Instead, Hitsugaya fell onto his front, skidding past Karin and hitting the safety wall of the rink. Grunting, Hitsugaya winced as he slowly sat up.
“Toushiro! Are you alright?” Karin exclaimed, skating hurriedly towards him. She was just fine, he noted jealously, on those skates.
Stopping right next to him and offering her hand, she helped pull him up and winced herself at his scowling face.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have goaded you like that,” Karin apologized.
Hitsugaya grunted again, his scowl deepening. “Teach me then,” he demanded.
Karin’s jaw dropped and she stared at him, “What?”
Hitsugaya averted his gaze, feeling slightly ashamed, “I said, teach me. I will call it even.”
A small hand touched his and Hitsugaya felt himself pulled. Looking up, he saw Karin smiling gently at him, no hint of teasing. He vaguely acknowledged that he was gliding smoothly across the ice with Karin.
It seemed like he was quite capable of skating.
When he was skating with Karin.
Implied Gin/Rangiku
Sitting in Hueco Mundo alone, Gin knew he was happy. He was at Aizen’s side, powerful and becoming more powerful. He was helping to reshape this flawed existence.
“Oi, Gin! Come drinking with me!”
“Maa, I’m skipping paperwork today. Skip too, Gin! Let’s go to the living world and eat out.”
“Yare, yare. If you’d smile normally, everyone wouldn’t be so freaked out by you. You’d have more friends, that’s for sure.”
“How come you’re so distant nowadays, Gin? I mean, more than usual…”
“Gin, I l…sorry, never mind.”
“Why’d you kiss me…?”
Here in Hueco Mundo, Gin knew he was happy. Especially with the echoes.
Shunsui/Nanao
Nanao pushed up her glasses, finally finished with the large stack of paperwork she had been dealt with. Fortunately, her captain’s work had also been finished –strangely, since it was unusual for Shunsui to have done so. It meant he was planning something.
Slightly paranoid, Nanao decided it would be alright to go home. That is, until she caught sight of her captain’s flamboyant haori disappearing around a corner. Curious but wary, Nanao followed.
There were pink, white, and red rose petals littering the ground as she walked the abandoned hallway. Rolling her eyes at her captain’s silliness, she turned the corner and caught sight of the only door at the end of the new hallway. Walking leisurely, not at all in a hurry to catch Shunsui, she walked up to the lone door and pushed it open.
She gasped in surprise, seeing the room set up for a dinner for two. The same roses she had seen in the halls were decorated around the room along with numerous candles lit up.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of lips descend onto her cheek from the side. When they left, she felt that area tingle.
“Happy birthday, Nanao-chan,” Shunsui smiled softly, a sort of seriousness mixed in with the soft gaze.
Nanao stared, wondering how she should approach this situation.
“You’re a horrible romantic, Kyouraku-taicho,” she said stoically, but a corner of her mouth contradicted her disapproval of the situation when it twitched upwards.
“I’m only a romantic for you,” his eyes flittered with mischief.
“Maybe only for tonight,” she gave in.
The sentiment was appreciated all the same.
Isshin/Masaki
Women are horrible when they’re pregnant. That, Isshin decided, was one of the unwritten, natural laws of the universe.
Compared to right now, he’d much rather face a hollow than face his wife –correction, pregnant wife’s wrath.
“Isshin! I hate you!”
His shinigami training allowed him to dodge the bowl of oranges that headed his way. He held up his hinds in surrender, nervously facing his wife. She growled at him.
“What’s wrong, hun?”
“You stupid bastard!” she threw a butter knife that was in reach. “That’s it! I’m leaving! I hate you and I don’t want to be near you!”
Panicking, Isshin dropped to his knees and clasped his hand in front of him, “Don’t leave me, dearest! You and Ichigo are my whole world! Tell me my wrongs!”
Masaki sniffled and looked down at her swollen belly, rubbing it slightly. Pouting, she said to it, “Ichi-chan –”
“Ichi-kun.”
Glaring at Isshin for that, Masaki sighed and continued to her unborn baby, “Your idiot father forgot his own wife’s birthday. If he forgets mine, he’ll forget yours and then I’ll be stuck in a loveless marriage. Then you’ll have to grow up in a dysfunctional family…”
She sniffled again.
Isshin sweatdropped, but ran to the room. “See? I didn’t forget your birthday,” he said, holding the vase of red roses that had been displayed in their room.
“Those are from our room,” she glared.
“I gave your birthday gift to you early, remember?” Isshin grinned.
Masaki blinked, her mouth forming an O. “I see…”
His wife burst into tears. Isshin sighed and adjusted to the mood change.
Renji/Rukia
It was nice now that Rukia got along with her brother. It made him happy. And he owed it to Ichigo for doing so much for her. And really…for him.
Ichigo made him remember how important Rukia was and that Renji would have to fight for her.
So when Rukia lies nestled in his arms after another mission in the living world, even if just as friends, Renji decides he should do something special for Ichigo.
One-sided Hinamori/Aizen
She was an odd case. Certainly, not one of a kind. Situations like hers have happened before, but rarely. Hinamori Momo was a unique addition to Noir Asylum.
The main advocate, though reluctantly so, was Hitsugaya-taicho. But the captain knew Hinamori-san wasn’t doing quite as well as before Aizen’s betrayal. The signs were all there. Depression was usual, though Hitsugaya-taicho said she hid it well and mostly let it out at night when she thought no one was around. She ate less, almost to the point where she could be declared as having an eating disorder. Rare though very significant, was when Hinamori-san would violently react to something someone had said or done
It mostly had something to do with Aizen.
In the few sessions he’d had with her so far, he’d noted her rather obsessed nature concerning the ex-captain. While very fond of him at times, she had this hatred that equaled her fondness for the man. When he would let her go on, she could rant about Aizen for hours. The beginning half was very tender and affectionate. The latter went into a more darker realm.
He didn’t really think it was all that surprising. For years, she had been brainwashed by the traitor and then to be betrayed and almost killed by someone she had doted on so exceedingly would cause severe psychological damage. Her mindset was very typical of someone who had been betrayed by someone they practically worshipped.
That is, her hatred of the one she was in love with.
Byakuya/Hisana
“I love you.”
“I know.”
And Hisana did know. She could tell whenever Byakuya let down his defenses around her, compared to the façade he’d have to put up when he had to deal with his shinigami or familial duties.
And she loved him back.
She didn’t think he knew that, but she hoped he did. Her heart wasn’t just for Rukia. It had grown to fit him as well.
Started 9/2/07 –Completed 9/3/07
Soundtrack:
Tatsuki/Ichigo –Sick Inside (Hope Partlow)
Ukitake/Ichigo –Just So You Know (Jesse McCartney)
Hitsugaya/Karin –I’ll Be (Edwin McCain)
Gin/Rangiku –Precious (Depeche Mode)
Shunsui/Nanao –Kissing You (Des’ree)
Isshin/Masaki –Potential Breakup (Aly and AJ)
Renji/Rukia –Invisible Man (98 Degrees)
Hinamori/Aizen –Fallin (Alicia Keys)
Byakuya/Hisana –Foreverlasting (April)
Set after future-fic, vague timelines, recent manga chapters, 1st movie, and more vague timelines. Definitely after Soul Society.
Ichigo/Rukia
He said it was fine. And he really looked it too. If it weren’t for the small hint of sadness in his eyes, Rukia would have gotten angry.
Because she was torn up about it.
She said she wouldn’t cry, but as soon as she had gone back to Soul Society and collapsed onto her bed at the Kuchiki estate, she bawled hard into her pillow.
If it weren’t for her, she knew they would’ve lasted a lot longer than they did. But her personal problems were standing in the way and she decided at split-second to break up with Ichigo. In that moment, as soon as she had said it, both of them were surprised. Then Ichigo calmly said fine and gave her a small smile before leaving. Leaving her to cry for the both of them.
Rukia wanted Ichigo back. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. In fact, she never wanted to break up with Ichigo. She hadn’t meant for those words to come out.
“You seem alright,” Ichigo’s familiar voice sounded in her head.
She froze and her eyes shot open, then she laughed bitterly at the fact her head was playing games with her now.
Suddenly, she felt strong arms pull her into an embrace from behind and someone nuzzling her neck.
“I figured you were just stressing out. Sorry I just left.”
“Ichigo?”
“Right here, Rukia. I’m right here.”
She turned and buried her face into his neck and started crying.
Kisuke/Yoruichi
How long has it been really? Yoruichi couldn’t really remember how long it’s been since she had deserted Soul Society to follow Kisuke. Sometimes she thought it’s been too long, and others not long enough. With Kisuke, it was hard to know what to feel.
But she does know that she wouldn’t have followed Kisuke without a reason.
And she does have one. Every time Kisuke smiles, every time, he acts like an idiot, even when he plots…she’s reminded of that reason.
Because he loves her and she could guess she felt the same.
Byakuya/Rukia
It was odd to him how he felt. Sometimes he wondered if it was because of Hisana, but then Rukia would act entirely different from her sister and he would still think he loved her.
And it’s been that way for two decades, ever since Kurosaki Ichigo crashed into their lives and showed Byakuya freedom. Showed him Rukia was special and that there was room in his heart for her. Showed him…how important Rukia really is to him.
Rukia reminded him of Hisana. But mostly, she just was her own person and Byakuya loved that about her.
Hanatarou/Hinamori
Hinamori had always thought it would’ve been Toushiro she would fall in love with after Aizen. She had never given thought to another.
She had never even looked at Hanatarou until he shyly kissed her that day.
Nowadays she would find herself at the fourth division staring as he happily went about his work, always careful to not be seen or notice by the healer. Her heart beat fast and hard, her eyes riveted to his small figure going about here and there.
When one of the eleventh division shinigami picked on him, she wanted to leap out and protect him. She didn’t like the look of sadness and fear on his face.
Hanatarou took walks often, mostly by the waters, and Hinamori would silently follow in the shadows with all the wishes that she could instead walk beside him like she pretends.
And then the unthinkable happens. Toushiro, her little Shiro-chan, asks her out.
This was Toushiro, her child-hood friend and the one she had always thought she’d fall in love with. It was logical to go out with him; it was expected by everyone…even herself once upon a time. She didn’t want to hurt Toushiro either.
But she loved someone so dearly.
So why did she say yes? Toushiro’s face was happy, but when she saw Hanatarou’s sad and unhappy face she felt like dying all over again.
Goodbye my almost lover…
Ichigo/Senna
He only has pictures of a girl he doesn’t know. He sees her in his mind, sees the physical images in his hand, and remembers the sound of her voice. He’s not quite sure it’s real, any of it.
She’s very pretty, he knows that. But it’s not what draws him to her. It’s this feeling that he had to protect her, that she’s scared and confused but very much real.
He’d like to think that having a family and a name is very important to her, as well as climbing to the highest of the heights she could enjoy.
Ichigo only has memories of her, all his pictures of her are vivid whether photos or in his recollection. He feels close to her and yet he doesn’t understand why he doesn’t know her –where had she come from, how did he know her, what is she to him?
Pictures, memories…
Memories…memories… memories…Senna…
Senna meant memories.
He thinks it’s only suiting to name her Senna, this girl he doesn’t know but feels he should.
Zaraki/Unohana
He likes to fight a lot. He spends most of the time fighting actually. He’d rather fight people like Kurosaki Ichigo, but he’d take what he could get in this weak place.
Mondays, he’d fight with all of twelfth division.
Tuesdays, he’d fight with all of sixth division –though, Kuchiki ignores him and leaves the meaningless squabble to his fukutaicho.
Wednesdays, he’d fight with just that freak Kurotsuchi.
Thursdays, he’d fight his own squad.
Fridays, though, was special. Fridays, he’s in love.
Saturdays are disappointments and Sundays signal another start to an annoying cycle of useless opponents. He’d rather it’d be Friday every day.
Especially when Unohana-taicho gives him that terrifying and annoyed smile and he feels his heart stop and a grin start up on his face.
Urahara/Ichigo
The raindrops keep falling, but it doesn’t bother him. Not really. Not when he has Ichigo keeping him warm and not lonely.
He realizes he has something in common with Ichigo’s Zangetsu. He and Zangetsu both hate the rain, and only Ichigo can make it better.
And that is all Urahara can ask for for now. After all, he’s waited thousands of years to meet Ichigo. He can wait for however long it takes for the substitute shinigami to understand and maybe reciprocate.
One-sided Soi Fon/ Yoruichi
She had served obediently. Even now, Soi Fon cannot go against who was once her entire world. Yoruichi had always and will always be Yoruichi-sama.
From the day she had been told her destiny to the day she had been reunited with Yoruichi-sama that fateful day of Aizen’s betrayal, nothing had changed.
Soi Fon still felt the need for Yoruichi-sama to look at her and acknowledge her, praise her, and love her. She had trained for no other reason than for Yoruichi-sama. To be her equal, to surpass her, to seek Yoruichi-sama’s acknowledgement, to find the reason why her Yoruichi-sama had left her behind.
Had she been too weak before? Had she not been enough, not strong enough to serve Yoruichi-sama?
She wanted to prove Yoruichi-sama wrong. That she would grow stronger than even her.
And yet Soi Fon had still not been enough and Yoruichi-sama still had that hold over her.
Soi Fon still cannot let go of Yoruichi-sama, nor let go of the maelstrom of emotions that tied her down since the beginning of her servitude to the woman who held her tightly in her grip like a cat to its prey.
And Soi Fon was her eternal prey.
Started 9/2/07 –Completed 9/11/07
Soundtrack:
Ichigo/Rukia –Big Girls Don’t Cry (Fergie)
Kisuke/Yoruichi –Everything (Fefe Dobson)
Byakuya/Rukia –Everyday (High School Musical 2)
Hanatarou/Hinamori –Almost Lover (A Fine Frenzy)
Ichigo/Senna –Pictures of You (The Cure)
Zaraki/Unohana –Friday I’m in Love (The Cure)
Urahara/Ichigo –Thank You (Dido)
Soi Fon/Yoruichi –Gravity of Love (Enigma)
He said it was fine. And he really looked it too. If it weren’t for the small hint of sadness in his eyes, Rukia would have gotten angry.
Because she was torn up about it.
She said she wouldn’t cry, but as soon as she had gone back to Soul Society and collapsed onto her bed at the Kuchiki estate, she bawled hard into her pillow.
If it weren’t for her, she knew they would’ve lasted a lot longer than they did. But her personal problems were standing in the way and she decided at split-second to break up with Ichigo. In that moment, as soon as she had said it, both of them were surprised. Then Ichigo calmly said fine and gave her a small smile before leaving. Leaving her to cry for the both of them.
Rukia wanted Ichigo back. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. In fact, she never wanted to break up with Ichigo. She hadn’t meant for those words to come out.
“You seem alright,” Ichigo’s familiar voice sounded in her head.
She froze and her eyes shot open, then she laughed bitterly at the fact her head was playing games with her now.
Suddenly, she felt strong arms pull her into an embrace from behind and someone nuzzling her neck.
“I figured you were just stressing out. Sorry I just left.”
“Ichigo?”
“Right here, Rukia. I’m right here.”
She turned and buried her face into his neck and started crying.
Kisuke/Yoruichi
How long has it been really? Yoruichi couldn’t really remember how long it’s been since she had deserted Soul Society to follow Kisuke. Sometimes she thought it’s been too long, and others not long enough. With Kisuke, it was hard to know what to feel.
But she does know that she wouldn’t have followed Kisuke without a reason.
And she does have one. Every time Kisuke smiles, every time, he acts like an idiot, even when he plots…she’s reminded of that reason.
Because he loves her and she could guess she felt the same.
Byakuya/Rukia
It was odd to him how he felt. Sometimes he wondered if it was because of Hisana, but then Rukia would act entirely different from her sister and he would still think he loved her.
And it’s been that way for two decades, ever since Kurosaki Ichigo crashed into their lives and showed Byakuya freedom. Showed him Rukia was special and that there was room in his heart for her. Showed him…how important Rukia really is to him.
Rukia reminded him of Hisana. But mostly, she just was her own person and Byakuya loved that about her.
Hanatarou/Hinamori
Hinamori had always thought it would’ve been Toushiro she would fall in love with after Aizen. She had never given thought to another.
She had never even looked at Hanatarou until he shyly kissed her that day.
Nowadays she would find herself at the fourth division staring as he happily went about his work, always careful to not be seen or notice by the healer. Her heart beat fast and hard, her eyes riveted to his small figure going about here and there.
When one of the eleventh division shinigami picked on him, she wanted to leap out and protect him. She didn’t like the look of sadness and fear on his face.
Hanatarou took walks often, mostly by the waters, and Hinamori would silently follow in the shadows with all the wishes that she could instead walk beside him like she pretends.
And then the unthinkable happens. Toushiro, her little Shiro-chan, asks her out.
This was Toushiro, her child-hood friend and the one she had always thought she’d fall in love with. It was logical to go out with him; it was expected by everyone…even herself once upon a time. She didn’t want to hurt Toushiro either.
But she loved someone so dearly.
So why did she say yes? Toushiro’s face was happy, but when she saw Hanatarou’s sad and unhappy face she felt like dying all over again.
Goodbye my almost lover…
Ichigo/Senna
He only has pictures of a girl he doesn’t know. He sees her in his mind, sees the physical images in his hand, and remembers the sound of her voice. He’s not quite sure it’s real, any of it.
She’s very pretty, he knows that. But it’s not what draws him to her. It’s this feeling that he had to protect her, that she’s scared and confused but very much real.
He’d like to think that having a family and a name is very important to her, as well as climbing to the highest of the heights she could enjoy.
Ichigo only has memories of her, all his pictures of her are vivid whether photos or in his recollection. He feels close to her and yet he doesn’t understand why he doesn’t know her –where had she come from, how did he know her, what is she to him?
Pictures, memories…
Memories…memories… memories…Senna…
Senna meant memories.
He thinks it’s only suiting to name her Senna, this girl he doesn’t know but feels he should.
Zaraki/Unohana
He likes to fight a lot. He spends most of the time fighting actually. He’d rather fight people like Kurosaki Ichigo, but he’d take what he could get in this weak place.
Mondays, he’d fight with all of twelfth division.
Tuesdays, he’d fight with all of sixth division –though, Kuchiki ignores him and leaves the meaningless squabble to his fukutaicho.
Wednesdays, he’d fight with just that freak Kurotsuchi.
Thursdays, he’d fight his own squad.
Fridays, though, was special. Fridays, he’s in love.
Saturdays are disappointments and Sundays signal another start to an annoying cycle of useless opponents. He’d rather it’d be Friday every day.
Especially when Unohana-taicho gives him that terrifying and annoyed smile and he feels his heart stop and a grin start up on his face.
Urahara/Ichigo
The raindrops keep falling, but it doesn’t bother him. Not really. Not when he has Ichigo keeping him warm and not lonely.
He realizes he has something in common with Ichigo’s Zangetsu. He and Zangetsu both hate the rain, and only Ichigo can make it better.
And that is all Urahara can ask for for now. After all, he’s waited thousands of years to meet Ichigo. He can wait for however long it takes for the substitute shinigami to understand and maybe reciprocate.
One-sided Soi Fon/ Yoruichi
She had served obediently. Even now, Soi Fon cannot go against who was once her entire world. Yoruichi had always and will always be Yoruichi-sama.
From the day she had been told her destiny to the day she had been reunited with Yoruichi-sama that fateful day of Aizen’s betrayal, nothing had changed.
Soi Fon still felt the need for Yoruichi-sama to look at her and acknowledge her, praise her, and love her. She had trained for no other reason than for Yoruichi-sama. To be her equal, to surpass her, to seek Yoruichi-sama’s acknowledgement, to find the reason why her Yoruichi-sama had left her behind.
Had she been too weak before? Had she not been enough, not strong enough to serve Yoruichi-sama?
She wanted to prove Yoruichi-sama wrong. That she would grow stronger than even her.
And yet Soi Fon had still not been enough and Yoruichi-sama still had that hold over her.
Soi Fon still cannot let go of Yoruichi-sama, nor let go of the maelstrom of emotions that tied her down since the beginning of her servitude to the woman who held her tightly in her grip like a cat to its prey.
And Soi Fon was her eternal prey.
Started 9/2/07 –Completed 9/11/07
Soundtrack:
Ichigo/Rukia –Big Girls Don’t Cry (Fergie)
Kisuke/Yoruichi –Everything (Fefe Dobson)
Byakuya/Rukia –Everyday (High School Musical 2)
Hanatarou/Hinamori –Almost Lover (A Fine Frenzy)
Ichigo/Senna –Pictures of You (The Cure)
Zaraki/Unohana –Friday I’m in Love (The Cure)
Urahara/Ichigo –Thank You (Dido)
Soi Fon/Yoruichi –Gravity of Love (Enigma)